Feeling a bit miffed! I have to double the medication I take for high cholesterol. All seems very unfair - apart from the odd chocolate or piece of (half fat) cheese I eat very little fatty food. Ah well, I suppose it's all for my own good.
Monday 28 January 2008
Sunday 27 January 2008
A short pause......
It's been a while since I posted anything, reason being that I'm soooo busy and will be writing an assignment for the next two days!
However, wanted to mention that Church was great this morning! Three people were Baptised, and there was a real sense of celebration. The Service was followed by a very delicious lunch!
Over the last couple of weeks I have had such a wonderful sense of the absolute 'wonder' of God. It's difficult to put into words. I pray that everyone can experience it!
However, wanted to mention that Church was great this morning! Three people were Baptised, and there was a real sense of celebration. The Service was followed by a very delicious lunch!
Over the last couple of weeks I have had such a wonderful sense of the absolute 'wonder' of God. It's difficult to put into words. I pray that everyone can experience it!
Saturday 19 January 2008
When I was a child .....
When I was a child…..
Time moved very slowly
Summers were sunny
Sleep came easily
And there were no pains in my body.
My heart was undamaged
I trusted the world
Each new thing discovered
Each experience learned.
My mind was free
My spirit could fly
My dance was hope
And my song was joy.
As years passed by
The world pushed in
Trying to steal my joy
And imprison me.
Pain and sadness
Tried to drown me
And hopelessness
Rose up to engulf me.
Though the world has tempted
Bullied and scared me
Though I walk with a limp
And need glasses to see
Though time flies by
And I don’t always cope
My song is still joy
And my dance still hope.
SAC (January 2008)
Time moved very slowly
Summers were sunny
Sleep came easily
And there were no pains in my body.
My heart was undamaged
I trusted the world
Each new thing discovered
Each experience learned.
My mind was free
My spirit could fly
My dance was hope
And my song was joy.
As years passed by
The world pushed in
Trying to steal my joy
And imprison me.
Pain and sadness
Tried to drown me
And hopelessness
Rose up to engulf me.
Though the world has tempted
Bullied and scared me
Though I walk with a limp
And need glasses to see
Though time flies by
And I don’t always cope
My song is still joy
And my dance still hope.
SAC (January 2008)
Thursday 17 January 2008
QUOTE
"Life becomes harder for us when we live for others, but it also becomes richer and happier."
ALBERT SCHWEITZER
Sunday 13 January 2008
SECURITY
If I had not been in this place
I would have missed so much.
I would not know the total assurance
That You are in control,
And my anxieties are wasted.
I would never have known
What it is to reach the end of everything,
To discover that it is just the beginning.
The relief of being at the very edge,
And find it holds no fear
Because that is where You are.
To have You help me
Stare terror up close,
And find it doesn’t have a face.
I would have only been able to guess
How much detail You control,
How You arrange all things for our good,
Even though we do not always know
That is what You are doing.
Now I am certain that You are with me,
Everywhere, all the time.
That I am Your child,
That I am in Your care,
That I am loved,
That I am safe.
(I wrote this poem in July 2002, on completion of follow-up treatment for cancer.)
I would have missed so much.
I would not know the total assurance
That You are in control,
And my anxieties are wasted.
I would never have known
What it is to reach the end of everything,
To discover that it is just the beginning.
The relief of being at the very edge,
And find it holds no fear
Because that is where You are.
To have You help me
Stare terror up close,
And find it doesn’t have a face.
I would have only been able to guess
How much detail You control,
How You arrange all things for our good,
Even though we do not always know
That is what You are doing.
Now I am certain that You are with me,
Everywhere, all the time.
That I am Your child,
That I am in Your care,
That I am loved,
That I am safe.
(I wrote this poem in July 2002, on completion of follow-up treatment for cancer.)
Saturday 12 January 2008
Heros
As a wee bit of fun, have been doing some of those "which character are you?" quizzes. Got me thinking. Although I would love to be one of the amazing fictional characters (although maybe only for a wee while!) there are also some real people that I would like to emulate.
Elizabeth Barratt-Browning - for her poetry; Fi Glover or Sandi Toksvig - for their use of language and quick wit; Judith Chalmers - just to visit all the countries that she has!!; Jane Austen - oh to be able to write like that!; Jackie Pullinger - what an amazing woman with an amazing relationship with God! And, from the Bible - Joshua!
So. Who you would like to be? Especially which Bible character?
Elizabeth Barratt-Browning - for her poetry; Fi Glover or Sandi Toksvig - for their use of language and quick wit; Judith Chalmers - just to visit all the countries that she has!!; Jane Austen - oh to be able to write like that!; Jackie Pullinger - what an amazing woman with an amazing relationship with God! And, from the Bible - Joshua!
So. Who you would like to be? Especially which Bible character?
Sunday 6 January 2008
My News
I've had the 'flu - or something very like it! Feeling a bit better today so heading back to work tomorrow.
My Christmas holidays got off to a good start, meeting some of my friends for a meal. We had a great evening!
On Sunday 23rd we had a lovely Christmas Family Service at church and our Sarah was able to join us. In the evening a number of us from church joined some of our friends at a local housing association for a Carol Service.
Joe was working on Christmas Day and the family celebrating in their own homes - so Joe and I had a quiet Christmas dinner when he got home, and we spent time with the family later in the week. Our youngest grandson is now walking, which is keeping his mum on her toes!
Of course we also had snow, which is very pretty (when viewed from inside!)
Well, I wonder what 2008 has in store for us all? I pray that it is full of good things for everyone.
My Christmas holidays got off to a good start, meeting some of my friends for a meal. We had a great evening!
On Sunday 23rd we had a lovely Christmas Family Service at church and our Sarah was able to join us. In the evening a number of us from church joined some of our friends at a local housing association for a Carol Service.
Joe was working on Christmas Day and the family celebrating in their own homes - so Joe and I had a quiet Christmas dinner when he got home, and we spent time with the family later in the week. Our youngest grandson is now walking, which is keeping his mum on her toes!
Of course we also had snow, which is very pretty (when viewed from inside!)Well, I wonder what 2008 has in store for us all? I pray that it is full of good things for everyone.
Tuesday 1 January 2008
A NEW YEAR
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
To anyone who reads this blog - I wish you all that's best for 2008.
I wonder what this year will bring? As usual for this time of year, I was thinking - reflecting on last year and pondering on my hopes for this new one. One of them is that I can grasp the pure joy of the fact that I have a relationship with God!!
Another is that I can find happiness in the simplest of things. I watched Michael Parkinson's final show - a compilation of his memorable interviews. Amongst them was a clip from 1980, of Larry Adler (on harmonica) and Itzhak Perlman (on violin) playing Summertime. At one point, Larry Adler smiled at Itzhak Perlman - and it was a smile of sheer enjoyment! What struck me was that he was smiling out of the sheer pleasure over the music that they were making. He was not smiling because he was being admired by Michael Parkinson, his guests, the studio audience and all those watching at home. He was not smiling because he was famous and rich. He was not smiling because he held centre-stage. He was smiling with the joy of making music with another great musician.
In this age of celebrity, and the desire of so many to be famous for the sake of being famous, I pray that we can all treasure the simple pleasures of life, most of which are found in God's creation - the natural world and people.
To anyone who reads this blog - I wish you all that's best for 2008.
I wonder what this year will bring? As usual for this time of year, I was thinking - reflecting on last year and pondering on my hopes for this new one. One of them is that I can grasp the pure joy of the fact that I have a relationship with God!!
Another is that I can find happiness in the simplest of things. I watched Michael Parkinson's final show - a compilation of his memorable interviews. Amongst them was a clip from 1980, of Larry Adler (on harmonica) and Itzhak Perlman (on violin) playing Summertime. At one point, Larry Adler smiled at Itzhak Perlman - and it was a smile of sheer enjoyment! What struck me was that he was smiling out of the sheer pleasure over the music that they were making. He was not smiling because he was being admired by Michael Parkinson, his guests, the studio audience and all those watching at home. He was not smiling because he was famous and rich. He was not smiling because he held centre-stage. He was smiling with the joy of making music with another great musician.
In this age of celebrity, and the desire of so many to be famous for the sake of being famous, I pray that we can all treasure the simple pleasures of life, most of which are found in God's creation - the natural world and people.
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